Northern Trust Corp Acquires 612,907 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 33.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,438,016 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 612,907 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp owned 0.12% of British American Tobacco worth $88,549,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC grew its holdings in British American Tobacco by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 8,904 shares of the company's stock valued at $323,000 after buying an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Keystone Financial Group grew its stake in British American Tobacco by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Keystone Financial Group now owns 17,695 shares of the company's stock valued at $643,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC now owns 14,697 shares of the company's stock valued at $534,000 after acquiring an additional 269 shares during the last quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC lifted its stake in British American Tobacco by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 15,047 shares of the company's stock worth $547,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 35.1% during the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,151 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

British American Tobacco Trading Down 3.8 %

NYSE BTI traded down $1.66 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $41.64. 8,279,460 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,784,540. The stock has a market cap of $86.18 billion, a PE ratio of 8.55 and a beta of 0.32. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 52 week low of $30.01 and a 52 week high of $44.78. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $41.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Investors of record on Friday, March 28th will be given a $0.7491 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio is presently 60.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on BTI. StockNews.com upgraded British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 17th. UBS Group raised British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Profile

British American Tobacco p.l.c. engages in the provision of tobacco and nicotine products to consumers worldwide. It also offers vapour, heated, and modern oral nicotine products; combustible cigarettes; and traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff. The company offers its products under the Vuse, glo, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, State Express 555 and Shuang Xi brands.